Thanks to the efforts of Dong Wencong and Fang Shouye, the ships that were forced to relocate returned to the Baling Wharf, and the wharf returned to its former busy state.
Fang Yun nodded slightly in mid-air, stepped on Pingbu Qingyun, and landed on the dock.
Many people in Baling City bowed to Fang Yun. Some people asked their children to kneel down to Fang Yun, and some adults also knelt down to Fang Yun. Most of these kneeling adults had deep hatred for Qing State.
The first thing Fang Yun did when he arrived at the dock was not to meet the officials of Baling, but to take a walk around the dock and talk to the boatmen, fishermen or the people of Baling City to learn about the local situation.
Fang Shouye and Dong Wencong were stunned for a while. Dong Wencong immediately asked people to take out the four treasures of the study and started painting. He painted the scene of Fang Yun talking with the people of Baling, then painted some officials in the distance and finally wrote a few comments.
"The arrival of the Void Saint brought order to the docks; the first appearance of the Governor-General made him stay away from officials and close to the people. Officials are like fish, and the people are like water. The relationship between fish and water is as deep as this."
After finishing writing, Dong Wen handed the scroll to the staff beside him and whispered, "Quickly pass it to the editorial department of the Shengyuan Wenbao."
Dong Wencong's staff immediately left in a hurry.
The Xiangzhou officials present looked at Fang Yun, who was surrounded by the people of Baling, with an expression of disbelief.
"Does this Governor Fang really know the ways of the officialdom, or did he just stumble upon it by mistake?"
"When it comes to winning the hearts of the people, this man is probably the best among all the ten countries." An old scholar snorted coldly.
"If the way of being an official becomes to please the people, how can it be disgraceful!" another Jinshi scolded in a low voice.
Some officials wanted to rebuke these Xiangzhou officials who supported the Qing Kingdom, but they could not open their mouths because what the Jinshi official said was right. The way of being an official is to flatter the superiors and bully the subordinates. No matter how stupid one is, he will not please the people. Once he wants to get to the top by pleasing the people, he will violate the taboo in the officialdom and will inevitably be attacked by the crowd.
If you can get promoted by pleasing the people, where does that leave the high officials who are responsible for the promotion and demotion of officials? This is simply subverting the political system of a country.
However, these officials did not dare to attack Fang Yun over this matter. The governor was not scary, but as a virtual saint, they could not bring him down by using such an incident. Once the news spread throughout the world, it would increase Fang Yun's literary reputation.
Fang Yun is no longer someone who can be restrained by any country's bureaucratic system.
Fang Yun chatted with the people of Baling City for a full hour before he said goodbye to them and walked in front of the officials of Xiangzhou.
"Greetings, Governor General!"
All the officials of Xiangzhou, led by Fang Shouye and Dong Wencong, bowed together.
"There's no need to be so polite, let's talk while we walk. This is my second time coming to Baling, and it can be considered as a revisit to an old place." Fang Yun said as he walked.
Many Xiangzhou officials who supported Jing State smiled faintly, because Fang Yunwen had fought against Qing State and recaptured Xiangzhou in Baling City. Not only did he destroy the reputation of King Qing, but he also left many high-ranking officials of Qing State helpless, making him a laughing stock of Shengyuan Continent.
However, those Xiangzhou officials who supported Qing State remained calm.
"Let's walk back to the city together and have a good chat about Xiangzhou affairs on the way. Wen Cong, are the officials from all places here?" Fang Yun spoke as he walked. He was younger than everyone present, but he spoke in an air of seniority and authority, quite like the governor of two states. No official dared to look down on him, but instead felt pressured.
Dong Wencong said hurriedly: "Xiangzhou is vast, with more than 80 cities under its jurisdiction. If the county magistrate of some remote counties takes an ordinary carriage, it will probably take several days to arrive."
The area around Fang Yun suddenly became quiet, and many officials subconsciously slowed down their breathing for fear that their breathing would be too loud.
"Which county is so poor that it doesn't even have a dragon horse? If a dragon horse is used, even the county magistrate who is farthest from Baling can arrive within three hours."
Dong Wencong coughed lightly and said, "Perhaps some of the county's Jiao horses were used for other purposes, and the county magistrate was unable to mobilize them, so he came here in an ordinary ox-horse cart."
Fang Yun looked at the sun in the west and asked, "Is there a new literary gathering tonight?"
Dong Wencong said hurriedly: "I have already made preparations for the inauguration ceremony, and some officials from Jiangzhou will arrive before the ceremony."
"Okay, if anyone hasn't arrived in Baling City before the literary meeting for taking up a new post, then there's no need to come!" Fang Yun said indifferently.
The hearts of many officials present sank. If Fang Yun's previous restoration of order was cautious or people-friendly, then Fang Yun's words this time were to demonstrate the governor's majesty and power.
The governor has arbitrary power over officials below the third rank.
No matter whether it was a seventh-rank county magistrate or a fifth-rank prefect, as long as they served within the two states, Fang Yun could find any small excuse to directly remove officials below the third rank in Xiangzhou and Jiangzhou without going through the cabinet.
The appointment of officials by the Jingguo Cabinet in other states has nothing to do with Fang Yun, but as long as officials are appointed in Jiangzhou and Xiangzhou, all officials below the third rank need Fang Yun's approval.
As long as Fang Yun does not stamp the governor's seal, neither the four prime ministers nor the officials of the two states appointed by the Queen Mother and the King will have actual power and cannot take office.
Precisely because the governor has great power, few countries have him. Jiang Hechuan also took great pains to get the left prime minister to agree.
This was to give those officials a warning. As long as those officials could not come, Fang Yun could directly remove them from office with just one charge of "disrespecting superiors".
The officials did not dare to respond, so Fang Yun continued, "Where will this literary gathering be held?"
Dong Wencong said, "Originally, there were five locations to choose from, namely Junshan, the shore of Dongting Lake, Zhou Wenyuan, Lu Su's Military Review Tower, and the largest restaurant in the city, Wangjiang Tower. After careful consideration, I decided that the restaurant was too vulgar, Zhou Wenyuan was too old, Junshan was too far away, and Lu Su's Military Review Tower was also on the shore of Dongting Lake, so it was the best."
"That's right, then we will hold today's literary gathering in the Reviewing Army Building."
Dong Wencong said: "I would like to remind you that as the most important person in this literary gathering, you must write a poem."
"Of course I know this."
Fang Yun nodded slightly. These were common practices in official circles. Since he was to serve as the governor of two states, he had to learn to integrate among the officials.
"Where is Lu Ming, the magistrate of Taihe Prefecture?" Fang Yun suddenly asked.
Then a middle-aged man in a Jinshi robe walked a few steps quickly and said, "I am Lu Ming, your humble servant, and I am honored to meet the Governor."
Fang Yun glanced at Lu Ming. He had an ordinary appearance, a mustache, and looked honest, yet also very shrewd.
"How's your investigation going into the Fuxing Society?" Fang Yun asked.
Some Qing officials suddenly became nervous, while Jing officials were much calmer.
"I have been interrogating the head of the society, Zhou Ziren, for a day. Since I learned that you would take up the post ahead of schedule, I had to rush here as fast as I could." Lu Ming answered truthfully.
"What do you think about this case?" Fang Yun said.
All the officials present were wondering about Fang Yun's intention. Many of them looked at Taihe prefect Yan Wu, but Yan Wu remained silent.
Lu Ming said with a bitter face: "This case was assigned by Lord Yan. I only have one opinion. I am willing but unable to do anything. I hope other officials will accept this case."
"This involves disputes between two countries and among the people. It has already alarmed scholars from all over the human race. As a county magistrate, you really cannot handle this matter. Prefect Yan, can you take over this case and get to the bottom of it as soon as possible?"
"This... I am too busy to judge this case, so I handed it over to Lu Ming."
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